pi-idea

Turn a single-shot idea into a live, internet-accessible prototype.

Type /idea a multiplayer drawing game — Pi creates a workspace, asks clarifying questions, and when you say go, implements and tunnels the running app so anyone with the URL can try it.

No repo setup, no deploy config, no "let me spin up a server". Just an idea, a quick conversation to nail the scope, and a tunnel URL back.

How it works

You:  /idea a todo app with auth and a dashboard
  ↓
Pi:   Creates ~/dev/ideas/todo-dashboard/
      Writes requirements.md, idea.json, runtime.json
      Asks you clarifying questions
      
You:  [answer questions, refine scope]
      ...then: go
  ↓
Pi:   Implements the app in the workspace
      Starts a dev server
      Opens a cloudflare tunnel (if available)
      Records the public URL in runtime.json
      
You:  Share the URL with anyone

Commands

Command	What it does
/idea <description>	Start a new idea from a rough description
/idea	Show current active idea or list existing ideas
/idea use <name>	Attach to an existing idea workspace
/idea status	Show active idea status & preview URLs
/idea go	Tell Pi to implement and run the active idea
/idea stop	Stop the running app / tunnel
/idea clear	Detach from the active idea

After /idea, you can iterate naturally — the extension injects the workspace context into Pi's system prompt so "it", "the app", or plain go refer to your active idea.

Why pi-idea?

• Zero friction — no project scaffolding, no decisions upfront
• Tunnel-first — when cloudflared is available, the app gets a public URL automatically
• Iterate in chat — refine requirements, ask for changes, all in one session
• Workspace-per-idea — each idea gets its own directory with requirements, source, runtime state

Install

pi install npm:pi-idea

Or test directly:

pi -e npm:pi-idea

Configuration

Set the ideas workspace root via the PI_IDEA_ROOT environment variable:

export PI_IDEA_ROOT=~/projects/my-ideas

Defaults to ~/dev/ideas/ when unset.

Workspace layout

<ideas-root>/<short-name>/
  requirements.md    — living spec, updated as you refine
  idea.json          — metadata (name, status, timestamps)
  runtime.json       — preview URLs, port, running state
  src/               — implementation
  docs/              — documentation
  scripts/           — run.sh, stop.sh, tunnel-run.sh

Pi keeps runtime.json up to date so you always know where the app is — local URL, public tunnel URL, and which one is preferred.